Andrews
fire fighting equipment



Sept. 20, 1966' w. o. ANDREWS 3,273,651

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l F 3 YNVENTOR.

. WILL/AM 0. ANDREWS A TTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1966 w. o. ANDREWS 3,273,651

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILL/AM 0. ANDREWS A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,273,651 FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT William 0. Andrews, 4716 College Ave., San Diego, Calif. Filed Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,877 8 Claims. (Cl. 169-1) The present invention relates to fire fighting mechanism, and particularly to fire fighting mechanism which is carried by a navigable flying machine.

The present invention embodies a navigable flying machine which'carries a motor in addition to the motor which drives the propeller or propellers for the flying machine. Means, in the form of a tank for fire extinguishing material and in the form of a platform for supporting firemen, is suspended from the flying machine. The motor actuates a winch or winches for raising and lowering the aforementioned means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the tank and platform are in the form of a unit which is raised and lowered as such. In another embodiment, the tank is a unit and the platform is a unit. In this embodiment, these units can be raised and lowered independently of one another by the winches.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side View of the fire fighting mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the mechanism other than the flying machine, and showing a part of the firemens platform in section; and

FIG. 3 is a view partly in section showing a modified form of tank and platform construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the navigable flying machine is shown as a helicopter 20. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the means, in the form of tank for fire extinguishing material and in the form of a platform for supporting firemen, comprises two separate elements, namely, the tank 22 and the platform 24. In this embodiment, the tank and the platform are manipulated independently of one another. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the tank and the platform are in the form of a unit.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an engine 26 which is carried by the helicopter, is shown diagrammatically. It drives three shafts 28, 30 and 32. Shaft 28 is connected to winches 34 and 36 by clutches 38 and 40, respectively. These clutches will be actuated simultaneously by mechanism not shown. Shaft 30 is connected to winches 42 and 44 by clutches 46 and 48, respectively, and are actuated simultaneously by a mechanism not shown. Shaft 32 is connected to a pump 50 by a clutch 52.

A tank 54 is connected with the winches 34 and 36 by cables 56. The end of the cables 56 is provided with hooks 58 which hook them to rings 60 fastened to the top of the tank. A platform 64 is connected to the winches 42 and 44 by cables 66. The end of the cables carry hooks 68 which are received by rings 70 at the top of the tank. There rings are fastened to cross pieces 72.

In this embodiment of the invention, the tank 54 and the platform 64 can be raised and lowered independently of one another by the proper actuation of the clutches 38, 40, 46 and 48. Preferably the tank 54 and the platform 64 are disposed laterally of one another so that when lowered, they will lie alongside of one another. The tank 54 can be lowered onto a cart so that it can be hauled to a station where it can be filled with the fire extinguishing fluid.

In the embodiment shown, the tank is of the air tight type. The tank is provided with an opening at the top for fill-ing the same, which opening is closed by a plug 74. The tank can be connected with the pump 50 through a hose 76. This hose is connected with the pump through a coupling 78. The top of the tank 54 is connected with the hose through a coupling 82. The hose 80 extends to the platform 64. Thus, after fire extinguishing fluid is placed in the tank and under pressure through the pump 50, this fluid is accessible to firemen located in the platform 64. The end of the hose 80 is provided with a nozzle 83.

The platform is preferably formed or includes heat insulating material and is provided with openings or windows 84 in the bottom 86 thereof and with a series of windows 88 in the upright walls 90 thereof through which a nozzle can be extended and through which the firemen can view the area which should be subjected to the fire extinguish ing material.

The means, in the form of a tank for fire extinguishing material and in the form of a platform supporting the firemen, is in the form of a unit in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the platform is shown at 164 and the tank is shown at 154. In this embodiment the coils of the hoses 76 and 80 rest upon the floor 186 of the platform. Hooks 68 at the end of the cables 66 are fastened to rings 121 which in turn are connected to the rings an the upright walls of the tank through cables 123 and hooks 125.

As in FIG. 2, the bottom of the platform 186 is provided with openings 184 and the upright walls 190 are provided with windows 188 for the same purpose as set forth with respect to FIG. 2.

A cart 127 may be attached to the tank or may be provided for receiving the unit, as shown, so that it can be hauled to a station at which the tank can be filled with fire extinguishing fluid. Obviously, similar carts can be provided for the tank 22 for hauling the tank to and from the position at which it is picked up by the heliocopter. A similar cart can be provided for moving the platform 24. Also the tank can be provided with a pump for use with the tank when it is not being attached to the heliocopter.

While the forms of embodiment herein shown and described, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. Fire fighting mechanism comprising in combination:

(A) A navigable flying machine having:

(1) a motor,

(2) winch means driven by the motor,

(3) control mechanism means for rendering winch means operative and inoperative;

(B) means forming a tank for fire extinguishing material and forming a platform for supporting firemen;

(C) cables connected with the last mentioned means and the winch means;

(D) and a hose connected with the tank and extendible to the areas of platform.

2. Fire fighting mechanism as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the platform is formed of heat insulating material.

3. Fire fighting mechanism as defined in claim 1, characterized to include:

(E) Side walls about the platform, said side walls being provided with holes.

4. Fire fighting mechanism as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the platform is provided with holes.

5. Fire fighting mechanism comprising in combination:

(A) A navigable flying machine having:

(1) a motor, (2) winches driven by the motor,

p v 3 v (3) control mechanism for rendering the winches operative and inoperative;

(B) a tank for fire extinguishing material;

(C) cables connected with certain of said winches and the tank for suspending the tank from the flying 5 machine and for raising and lowering the tank;

(D) a platform for supporting firemen;

(E) cables connected with certain other of said winches and the platform for suspending the platform below the tank and for raising and lowering the tank;

(F) and a hose connected with the fluid in the tank and extending to the areas of the platform.

6. Fire fighting mechanism as defined in :claim 5, characterized in that the platform is formed of heat insulating 15 material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Ypma 239-171 Bowman 244-136 Ripper et a1. 244136 Rust 1691 Eveleth 169-1 EVERETT W. KIRBY,Prih1ary Examiner. 

1. FIRE FIGHTING MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A NAVIGABLE FLYING MACHINE HAVING: (1) A MOTOR, (2) WHICH MEANS DRIVEN BY THE MOTOR, (3) CONTROL MECHANISM MEANS FOR RENDERING WINCH MEANS OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE; (B) MEANS FORMING A TANK FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING MATERIAL AND FORMING A PLATFORM FOR SUPPORTING FIREMEN; 